John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 20 December 1780

John Adams to John Quincy Adams

You are now at an University, where many of the greatest Men have received their Education.

Many of the most famous Characters, which England has produced, have pursued their Studies for some time at Leyden. Some, tho not many of the Sons of America, have studied there.

I would have you attend all the Lectures in which Experiments are made whether in Philosophy, Medicine or Chimistry, because these will open your mind for Inquiries into Nature: but by no means neglect the Languages.

I wish you to write me, an Account of all the Professorships, and the names of the Professors.1 I should also be obliged to you for as good an Account of the Constitution of the University as you can obtain. Let me know what degrees are conferred there; by whom; and what Examination the Candidates undergo, in order to be admitted to them.

1. JA himself shortly supplied these to JQA, in his (second) letter of 23 Dec., below.

2. The order in which JA wrote his two letters to JQA of this date has been established only by guesswork. The beginning of the letter here placed second suggests that JA had been expecting a letter from JQA by the post of this day and was disappointed not to receive one. Besides writing twice to JQA, JA wrote twice this day to Thaxter at Leyden (see Thaxter to JA, 22 Dec., below), but these letters have not been found.

More between these correspondents

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